Chord finder



R. CORDIER cHoRD FINDER Filed May 25, 1928 Gb E MAJOR CHORD May 12, 1931.

Patented May 12, 1931 PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND CORDIER, lOF CANTON, OHIO 'CHORD rFINDER Application filed May 25,

Myv invention relates to chord finders for use -by music students, composers, musical arrangers, orchestrators and the like, to enable the rapid finding of any of the several chords l for any note or key.

For any note in a given octave, there are certain chords which will harmonize there with, and which may include the following x-major; minor; dominant 7th; diminished 7th; augmented 5th; minor 7th.

It has heretofore been necessary for a musician to laboriously learn and memorize the various chords for each note.

The object of the present improvements is '15 to provide a simple apparatus whereby any chord for any note may be rapidly found mechanically and visually indicated.

These objects are attained in the present improved chord finder of the present invenn tion, as will be hereinafter set forth in detail and claimed.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the improved chord linder in which the parts are movable longitudinally with respect to each other;

Fig. 2, a cross section thereof as on line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a view of another embodiment of the improved chord finder in which the parts are rotatable with respect to each other, and including improved means for visually in- 35 dicating the chords; and

Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3 with one of the rotatable members removed.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The embodiment of the invention indicated generally at 10 in Figs. 1 and 2 includes an indicator and guide member 11 having therein an outwardly opening longitudinally eX- tending centrally located dovetailed groove "'45 12 in which a designator and slide member 13 is arranged to slide.

Preferably at one side of the slide member, chord indicating panels 14, 15, and 16 are arranged on the guide member, and at the 59 other side of the slide member chord indicat 192s. serial No. 280,529.

ing panels 17, 18, and 19 are arranged .on the guide member.

Forr example, the chord indicating panel 14 may designate, as illustrated, the minor chord by means of a plurality of properly spaced arrowpindicators'14, it being understood that the minor chord consists of the first, the lowered 3rd and theyth step of any scale and the arrows 14 being longitudinally spaced accordingly. 00

Similarly, the chord indicating panel 15 designates as illustrated the diminished l7th chord, comprising the first, the loweredrd, the lowered 7th and the diminished 7th by suitablyl spaced arrow indicators 15.

Likewise, the chordy indicating panel 16 designates them-incr 7th chord .by suitably spacedl arrow indicators 16', the minor 7th chord comprising the lowered 3rd, the 5th, and the lowered 7th. 70

- Likewise, the chord indicating ypanel 17 designates by suitably spaced arrowindicators 17', the augmented k5th chord comprising the 1st, the 3rd, and the raised 5th.

Likewise, the chord lindicating panel 18 designates by suitably spaced arrow indicat ors 18', the dominant 7th chord, comprising the 1st, the `3rd, the 5th and the lowered 7th step of the scale. Y

And finally, ythe chord indicating panel 19 designates by suitably spaced arrow indicators 1.9 the major chord comprisingthe 1st, the 3rd, and the 5th. 4

The slide member l13 has arranged thereon equally spaced literal designations 20 for the half tones comprising a plurality of ootaves, although any other symbols for designating the tones maybe used. n

In using 'the chord finder 10, for example, to find any'of the chords for the note or key "l B,the slide `member is moved longitudinally until one ofthe literal designators'B'is 0pposit-e the key-note arrows'21 ,arranged on the guide member between the chord indicating panels.

The arrow indicators'of the lseveral chord indicating panels then point to the literal designators Von the slide member, and visll ally indicate the notes zot, any ofthe Lchords tcrthenoteortone 19 lar rivet 112 to a designator member 113.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced chord indicating panels 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, and 119 are arranged on the outer surface of the indicator member 11, and the indicating panels comprise a literal title of the chord to be indicated, and suitably spaced slot indicators 114.-', 115', 116, 117, 118, and 119 respectively.

For example, the chord indicating panel 114; may designate as illustrated the major chord by means of a plurality of the properly spaced slot indicators 114C.

ySimilarly vthe chord indicating panel 115 designates as illustrated the minor chord by the suitably spaced slot indicators 115.

` Likewise the chord indicating panel 116 designatesas illustrated the dominant 7th chord by the suitably spaced slot indicators 116. l l Y Likewise the chord indicating panel 117 designates "as illustrated by the suitably spaced slotindicators 117 the diminished 7th chord.v

Likewise theV chord indicating panel 118 designates by suitably spaced slot indicators 118 the augmented 5th chord.

'y And finally the chord indicating panel 119 designates by suitablyspaced slot indicators 119 the minor 7th chord.

The designator member 113 has arranged thereon equally and circumferentially spaced literal designations 120l fork the half tones comprising a plurality of octaves, although any other symbols for designating the tones may be used. y

The centers of the literal designators 120 ,are arranged at the same radial distance from the tubular rivet 112 as the centers of the slot indicators.

The indicator member 111 is preferabl in the form 'of a circular disk of less area t an ``the designator member 113, Which may like- VWise be in the form of a circular disk. The designator member 113 has also arranged thereon a plurality of equally and circumferentially spaced rkey. note designators 121 for the half tones comprising at least one octavepreferably adjacent the outer periphery thereof and outside of the outer pe- A properly spaced radial pointing key note indicating arrow ,122 is provided on the indcator member 111,- i i v 'In using the chord iinder 110,.for example,

yin finding any of the chords for the note or key Gas illustrated, the indicatorv and designator members are rotated With respect to each otheruntil the key note indicating arrow 122 points to the literal designator Gr, and the several slot indicators will then visuber forvisually indicating the tones of chords on the designator member and for covering from view all the otherv tone designators on the designator member.

2. A chord finder including an indicator member and a designator member rotatably movable With respect to each other, a Vplurality of tone designators on the designator member, and a plurality of means on the indicator member for visually indicating the tones of chords on the designator member and for covering from View all the other tone designators on the designator member.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

RAYMOND CORDIER. 

